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The two-plus week trial began Jan. 14. The jury returned its verdict Thursday, less than a day after closing arguments.

“Linda Robb has been vindicated. The court system and the ballot box are the only two ways to make these commissioners accountable,” Seattle attorney Jack Sheridan said in a statement.

Complaint investigation

During the trial, Sheridan introduced 600 pages of documents gathered after Robb lodged a complaint about abuse by Benton County Commissioner Shon Small with the Franklin County Human Resources Director, Janet Taylor. The investigation apparently stopped when Robb was fired.

Small testified before a jury of eight women and four men, including two alternates, that he called Robb a “compulsive liar” and a “pathetic manager.”

Robb came under fierce criticism by Small after she discovered he had been working with the head of Lourdes to privatize the crisis unit. Small had ordered her employees to keep the information from her.

In court, Small said he was frustrated after Robb told the six commissioners of the two counties that the crisis unit was at risk of closing. Small said it was a “lie” because the counties had millions in reserve to cover any shortfall.

Franklin County Commissioner Brad Peck was the only commissioner to oppose firing Robb in 2015.

Franklin County Commissioner Bob Koch, who voted to fire Robb, said he didn’t have enough information to comment on the verdict. Koch said he wasn’t troubled by his vote. Robb was insubordinate for refusing to fire an employee, he said.

Benton County Commissioners Jerome Delvin, Shon Small and Jim Beaver could not be reached late Thursday on their mobile numbers.